Published Paper Details:

Traditional vehicles often exhibit understeer or oversteer, which cannot be automatically corrected by conventional steering systems. This limits the vehicle's ability to maintain neutral steering under various driving conditions. The introduction of a four-wheel steering (4WS) system aims to overcome these challenges by improving maneuverability and achieving near-neutral steering. In scenarios such as low-speed cornering, navigating through heavy traffic, or parking in tight spaces, vehicles with longer wheelbases face difficulty due to a larger turning radius. By integrating a 4WS mechanism, the turning radius can be significantly reduced, enhancing the vehicle's agility and control. This project focuses on designing and implementing a mechanical four-wheel steering system that allows the rear wheels to turn in coordination with the front wheels. Depending on the driving condition, the rear wheels can steer either in the same direction or opposite to the front wheels, improving vehicle handling, stability, and parking convenience. Although traditional mechanical 4WS systems are complex and not widely used, some advanced models like the Honda Prelude and Nissan Skyline GT-R have adopted them with success. Our proposed system introduces a simplified, three-mode interchangeable 4WS mechanism that transmits the steering input to the rear wheels, replicating the front-wheel steering action. The system is developed to provide better control and minimize turning effort, particularly in constrained environments.